Stretcher.



E. L. FITZGERALD.

STRETOHER. APPLICATION FILEI OGT.8, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1914,

al'rozmu wi/bwe ooeo Emma L. rrrzenmlin'or cauanmen, MARYLAND.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Emurn L. Frrz- GERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Dorchester and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stretchers, of which. the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a stretcher, and

more particularlyto the class of devices for stretching pelts. The invention is an im-- provement on Letters Patent No. 1,064,632, issued to me June 10, 1913.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein various sizes of pelts can be easily and quickly stretched, the device being especially adapted for the hides of smaller furbearing animals.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the tail portion of the hide can be engaged so as to stretch the entire hide including the said tail portion thereof, although a hide without the tail can be conveniently stretched.

A further objectof the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, possessin parts, strong, durable, reliable and e cient in its purpose, and inexpensive in manufacture.

The invention censists of a'device preferably formed from a single piece of resilient wire bent to provide a stretching body, and a cross piece which is slidable upon the stretching body and is formed with a hook for engaging the tail portion of a hide when held upon the stretching body.

With these and other objects in view,-the invention consists in the construction, combinatio-n and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective 'view of the device showing the hide thereon. Fig. 2 is an end view: -Fig. 3 is a view of the device when not in use.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts through theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the

Speciflcationof Letters Patent. Application filed bctober 8,1918. Serial n 794,129.

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parts of the stretcher comprise a cross piece 5 and a resilient bow 6, the former being formed from a single piece of wire, and likewise the said bow is formed from a single piece of resilient wire bent into substantially Patented June 3.0, 1914. I

V-shape, and has its ends curled inwardly to form eyes 8, the cross piece 5 being construct ed in a manner presently described. The cross piece has its wire body bent at one end to form a coi1'9, the convolutions of which are arranged in contact with each other and form a. sleeve to loosely embrace one limb of the how .6, while its opposite end is bent to form a loop 10 which loosely embraces the other limb of the said bow 6. This loop end is further bent to' rovide a hook 1 1 which is pointed and is a apted to engage the tail portion 12 of 9. hide '13 when held upon the bow, it being seen that the hide will be distended and likewise the tail portion. The crosspiece 5 is prevented from slipping on the limbs of the bow 6 by reason of the outward pressure thereof; The loop of the cross piece prevents the compressing of the limbs of the bow so as to permit difierent sizes of hides to be placed upon the bow and stretched when pressure is released from the limbs of the said how. What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a hide stretcher comprising a bow of substantially V-shape to form a stretching body having resilient limbs, and a cross piece slidably con- 'nectedwiththe limbs of the bow and having eye and loop terminals respectively loosely engaging the said limbs; '2. Asan article of manufacture, a hide stretcher comprising a bow of substantially V-shape to form a stretching body having resilient limbs, a cross piece slidably connected with the limbs of the bow and having eye and loop terminals res ctively loosely engaging the said limbs, an a pointed hook piece and disposed at right angles to the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EURITH L. FITZGERALD. Witnesses:

RICHARD Jonas, TINA GEOGHEGAN.

formed on the loop terminals of the cross 

